One Love (Modern Plays)
by Kwame Dawes

A new play for Britain’s leading black theatre company, with a premiere at London’s Lyric Theatre in July 2001 Hot, humid, downtown Kingston, Jamaica. The 1970s. Streets pulse with reggae, rhythm and dub. Brotherman is a local Rastafarian guru who heals, preaches and tries hard to live a righteous life. When he gives a homeless young country girl a space in his house, the volatile neighbourhood is sparked into jealousy and violence. Meanwhile, her growing love for him tests his commitment to a pure, spiritual life.Commissioned by Talawa, Britain’s leading black theatre company, and inspired by Roger Mais’ classic novel Brotherman, One Love takes us to the heart of the Jamaican soul, as actors, dancers, singers, live musicians and a DJ draw on influences such as Bob Marley and Lee ’Scratch’ Perry to tell this powerful parable of desire and denial.